Biblical Character Study: Disciples of Lord Jesus Christනියැදිය

Apostle John – The Beloved

Introduction

John Boanerges, also known as the beloved disciple, was one of the twelve apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. His second name, Boanerges, means “son of thunder.” He was part of the inner circle along with Peter and James. John wrote five books in the New Testament — the Gospel of John, 1, 2, and 3 John, and the Book of Revelation.

Family Background

John was likely from Bethsaida, the hometown of Philip, Andrew, and Peter (John 1:44). His father, Zebedee, was a prosperous fisherman who employed hired servants to assist in the family business (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19-20; John 21:2). John’s mother, Salome, is believed to have been the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25). This makes John a first cousin of the Lord Jesus.

Salome was among the women who supported the ministry of Jesus from their own means (Mark 15:40-41; Luke 8:3). She was present at the cross and helped provide spices for Jesus’ burial (Mark 16:1). John, therefore, came from an influential family and had connections with the high priest’s household (John 18:15).

John was about five years younger than Jesus and lived to be over one hundred years old.

Special Occasions with the Lord

Peter, James, and John were present with the Lord on three key occasions:

1. Raising the daughter of Jairus – They witnessed Jesus’ power over death (Luke 8:49-56).
2. The Transfiguration – They saw the Lord’s divine glory, as the Law and the Prophets gave way to the Messiah (Matthew 17:1-8).
3. The Garden of Gethsemane – They observed His deep agony and surrender to the Father’s will (Matthew 26:36-46).

These events revealed three great truths about Christ: Lord of Life, Lord of Glory, and Lord of Suffering.

Paul later echoes this same threefold experience:

“That I may know him (Transfiguration) and the power of his resurrection (Jairus’ daughter) and may share his sufferings (Gethsemane), becoming like him in his death.”
(Philippians 3:10)

The Lord’s close relationship with these three apostles reflects His divine leadership strategy — training a few deeply to influence many.

John and Samaria

John once displayed fiery zeal when a Samaritan village refused to receive Jesus. He asked the Lord, “Do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” (Luke 9:54). But the Lord rebuked him.

Later, after Pentecost, the same John was used by God in Samaria to call down fire of the Holy Spirit — not of destruction, but of salvation (Acts 8:17). The same region he once wanted to destroy became the place where he became a vessel of God’s grace. The Lord transformed his temperament and sanctified his zeal for divine purposes.

John’s Ambition and Transformation

Together with his brother James, John once sought positions of honor — to sit at the Lord’s right and left in glory (Mark 10:37). Ambition for spiritual leadership is good when purified, but dangerous when motivated by pride. The Lord taught them humility, service, and sacrifice (Matthew 20:20-28).

John also once forbade a man from casting out demons in Jesus’ name because he was not part of their group (Mark 9:38). Jesus corrected him, saying, “Do not stop him…for the one who is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:39-40). This gentle correction expanded John’s narrow zeal into mature love and discernment.

The Last Supper and Calvary

John and Peter were sent ahead to prepare for the Last Supper (Luke 22:8). During the meal, John sat next to Jesus, leaning on His chest — a position of intimacy and trust (John 13:23).

John alone, among the apostles, remained near the cross during the crucifixion. There, Jesus entrusted His mother to John’s care:

“When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’”
(John 19:26–27)
From that moment, John took Mary into his home and cared for her as his own mother.

Post-Resurrection Encounters

After the resurrection, John was among the disciples who went fishing. He was the first to recognize Jesus on the shore and exclaimed, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7). His spiritual sensitivity reflected his closeness to the Master.

Ministry After Pentecost

After Pentecost, John became an active leader in the early Church.

• He and Peter healed the lame man at the Temple gate (Acts 3:1-10).
• Both were imprisoned for preaching the gospel (Acts 4:3).
• They also visited the new Samaritan believers to confirm them in the faith and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17).
  John, once fiery with judgment, now became a channel of divine love and life.

Jerusalem Council and Apostolic Leadership

John was present at the Jerusalem Council around A.D. 51 (Acts 15). Paul referred to him, along with Peter and James, as a pillar of the Church (Galatians 2:9). His counsel and influence shaped the unity and growth of the early Christian community.

Apostle of Love

In his later years, John became known as the Apostle of Love. Once ambitious, intolerant, and impulsive, he mellowed into a gentle yet powerful voice of divine love. His writings emphasize love, truth, and obedience:

“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16)

Exile and Final Years

During Emperor Domitian’s reign (A.D. 81-96), John was brought to Rome and thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil — yet he miraculously survived unharmed. He was then exiled to the island of Patmos around A.D. 95, where he received the vision recorded in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:1, 9).

After Emperor Nerva succeeded Domitian, John was released and returned to Ephesus, where he continued to minister until his death at an advanced age — the only apostle to die peacefully, not by martyrdom.

Challenge

John’s life is a powerful testimony of transformation. Once a fiery and impulsive young man, he became a humble, loving disciple who reflected the heart of his Master. His message is timeless — to love God wholeheartedly and to love others selflessly, just as the Lord Jesus Christ loved us.